56 The End of the Game

Zachary had taken long without touching the ball. So, he found himself curiously eager, carried away by the tide of excitement to perform.

He didn't let the ball bounce—but instead brought it down gently, like he had a magnet in his boots that could attract rubber. His ball control had always ranked among his best skills from childhood. He had been juggling tins and balls woven from banana fibers since he was five, honing his ability to manipulate the ball.

However, the Riga players didn't allow him anytime to deliberate. One of the center-backs, marking him, crushed into his back within a second of his controlling the ball. He applied physical pressure with his body, denying him an opportunity to turn with the ball.

Zachary protected the ball with his body, using his strength graded at A- by the system to keep the defender at bay. Meanwhile, he looked up and noticed that the other Riga players who had been attacking his box were closing-in on him very quickly.